FUKUOKA: Gangster gets 30 years for slaying rival

The district court here Thursday sentenced a senior gang member to 30 years in prison for the shooting death of the boss of a rival group last year.

Presiding Judge Hidefumi Hayashi ruled that Hisanobu Oka, 38, conspired with other members of a yakuza group called Kyushu Seidokai to carry out the hit against Yoshihisa Matsuo, leader of the Dojinkai gang.

"The criminal act (committed by Oka) had a tremendous impact and instilled fear in local communities," Hayashi said.

According to the ruling, Oka shot Matsuo, 56, on a road here around 6:30 p.m. last Aug. 18.(IHT/Asahi: March 28,2008)